Country music meets contemporary dance when Dance Kaleidoscope presents “Kings and Queens of Country” on the Indiana Repertory Theatre Upperstage, Mar. 6-16, 2014.

With all new choreography, the DK dancers perform to a full evening of country music. As with all DK dance pieces, expect a cool vibe and a couple of surprises.

After the two Saturday evening Kings & Queens performances (March 8 and 15), DK will offer a Honky Tonk in the IRT Cabaret (3rd floor). Indianapolis band The Revelators will play and partner Sun King Brewing Company will offer complimentary beverages. Limited to 75 people, Tickets – $22 in advance at 317-940-6555 or $25 at door.

The Indiana Repertory Theatre is located at 140 West Washington Street in the heart of downtown Indianapolis, directly west of the Indianapolis Artsgarden. For more information, visit http://www.dancekal.org/, or call 317-635-5252.

Church Brothers Collision Repair, a Butler University Athletics’ sponsor, is partnering with the Butler men’s basketball team for its 3rd annual “Stock the Pantry” pet collection initiative Saturday, March 8 during the Butler vs. Seton Hall game at Hinkle Fieldhouse, which tips off at 4:30 p.m.

Attendees are asked to bring donations of bagged or canned dog or cat food to benefit Indianapolis Animal Care & Control (IACC), the largest municipal animal shelter in the state.

On average, IACC takes in an estimated 44 animals a day, which amounts to over 16,000 dogs, cats and other animals annually.

“These animals might have a temporary home, but they have to eat to survive, just like us,” said Ted McClintic, president of Church Brothers Collision Repair. “The issue is the shelter heavily relies on contributions due to budget restrictions.”

“And that’s where we come in,” McClintic said. “We want it to be a team effort between basketball fans, faculty, the student body and area residents.”

With the help of Butler’s mascot Blue III, better known as Trip, Holistic Select is launching the drive with a generous contribution of food, and Holistic Select just so happens to be Trip’s cuisine of choice.

Donation bins will be on-site at every Fieldhouse entrance during the game, although contributions will also be accepted at Hinkle’s box office Monday, March 3 through Friday, March 7 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. for those unable to make the game.

Since 1992, Danville, Indiana’s Mayberry Cafe has served up down-home cooking and plenty of Andy Griffith Show nostalgia to thousands of people who come to Hendricks County every year from around the region, country and even the world.

Restaurant owners Brad and Christine Born, with the help of the Downtown Danville Partnership, plan to take that success and notoriety to a new level this spring with a first-ever, two-day festival called Mayberry in the Midwest, May 17-18, 2014. The Downtown Danville celebration will pay homage to the 1960’s show, its characters and its wholesome, small-town persona.

“For years, people would ask us why we didn’t have a Mayberry-themed festival here in town,” said Christine Born. “We have been thinking about this for a while because the Mayberry theme really meshes well with Danville’s hometown values. Danville knows how to put on a festival, so we feel the time is right for this to be successful and sustainable.”

The two-day festival will primarily surround the Hendricks County Courthouse Square with numerous themed activities both days including appearances by two original cast members, Maggie Peterson, who played Charlene Darling on the show, and Rodney Dillard, who portrayed one of the Darling boys.

A number of tribute artists will join the celebration reprising many of the show’s most popular characters including Barney Fife, Floyd the Barber, Otis, Goober, Gomer, Ernest T. Bass and others. Those artists will sign autographs, mingle with the crowd and perform on stage on the west side of the Courthouse Square.

Fun contests, including a whistling contest, Miss Mayberry, Opie look-a-like, trivia and more, will add to the festivities. More details about all the contests and how to register can be found at www.MayberryInTheMidwest.com. Other activities include a Mayberry Parade, Opie’s World for kids, a concert at Ellis Park featuring Dillard and his band, a church service on Sunday morning by Dillard who is now a minister, Squad Car Nationals in the park and much more.

Organizers even have a Mayberry Downhill Derby planned near Ellis Park that includes a “Just for Fun” category that is open to anyone and any car and a competitive division for the more serious Soap Box Derby racers. Online registration will begin for both categories by March 1. Participants must be at least 8 years old to participate as each category will be divided into two age groups: 8-16 and 16 and up.

Similar festivals in North and South Carolina, one of which the Borns visited last year, provided inspiration for some of the activities. But local organizers also came up with fresh ideas for Mayberry in the Midwest, Born said.

Organizers expect thousands of visitors both days. They will host a Meet and Greet event with limited tickets available the Friday night before the festival at Twin Bridges Golf Course. The Dugan Family has stepped up as a title sponsor for Mayberry in the Midwest, but the town is seeking additional sponsors and volunteers, said Laura Parker, Danville Assistant Town Manager and Downtown Danville Partnership board member.

“We have been building our reputation as a town that offers great festivals and events, so Mayberry in the Midwest is another opportunity for Danville to shine,” Parker said. “Because of Mayberry’s appeal and Danville’s reputation, this festival is bound to be the biggest by far. We can’t wait to roll out the red carpet for Mayberry fans from across the country.”

Diners will soon be able to experience culinary delights from independent and upscale chain restaurants on the north side of Indianapolis from Monday, March 3 to Sunday, March 16, 2014. For 14 days, guests will be able to take advantage of specially designed three-course, value-priced menus for one person or two people.

In its fourth year, Northside Nights anticipates more than 30 restaurants will participate in the event providing guests with various dining options including drink pairings, vegetarian and gluten free choices.

Updates will also be posted on the Northside Nights Indy Facebook page and via the Twitter handle @northsidenightsindy. For more information, visit http://northsidenightsindy.com/, or call 317-673-4211.

You know, one of the things I love about Indiana is the broad diversity of events. There’s always something good and interesting to do around Indy no matter what it is in which you are interested. If you want to go fancy in tux and tails, there are events for that. If you want go to the other extreme, there are events to suit your tastes, too.

One of those events is the 23rd annual Maple Syrup Festival at Leane and Michael’s Sugarbush, 321 North Garrison Hollow Road, east of Salem in Washington County, Indiana, about two hours south of Indianapolis via I-65 to the Scottsburg exit, then west. Last weekend was the first of two weekends of pancakes and maple syrup, old-fashioned games, live music, demonstrations, wagon rides, crosscut sawing, candle making, and lots more at this remote country site in the hills of southern Indiana.

Parking on a county road near the Maple Syrup Festival.

The operative word in the venue’s address is “hollow.” The festival is located on a family farm down in the bottom of a hollow in Washington County. Be prepared to park on the berm of a county road and walk a long way down into the hollow to get to the festival (see photo at right). This means that you also have to walk back up out of the hollow at the end of your visit, which is not a desirable chore if you are elderly or not in good physical condition, and there is no shuttle service (handicapped parking is available on the grounds; show a staff member your handicapped sticker). Wear comfortable clothes and take a good pair of boots (hey, it’s a farm, it’s muddy).

Having said that, the Maple Syrup Festival is a lot of fun. On Saturday there were lots of kids enjoying themselves at the straw maze, the tomahawk throw, climbing Jacob’s Ladder (or not!), and even building a spillway in the creek that passes through the property (I’ll bet that made some parents happy!).

There are many exhibits and vendors. The Sugar Store offers those cute little jugs of maple syrup plus maple cotton candy and maple cream, and there’s a wide variety of merchandise for sale. And, ohhhh, that evaporator room! It’s pretty intriguing just to watch the staff members making the maple syrup with the steam rolling out of that big evaporator.

Pancakes and Maple Syrup at the Maple Syrup Festival.

Of course, no festival worth attending would be any good without some great Hoosier food, and the Maple Syrup Festival lives up to this standard with pancakes and sausage, BBQ chicken, pork chops, pulled pork, and that amazing Waffle Boat Supreme topped with strawberries or blueberries, ice cream, whipped cream and pure maple syrup. OMG.

The Maple Syrup Festival is open for its second weekend, March 1-2, 2014, from 9 am to 5 pm on both Saturday and Sunday. There’s no parking fee or admission charge to enter the grounds, but of course you’ll want to take some money for food and any purchases (and a couple of the activities have a small charge). For more information, visit http://www.lmsugarbush.com/, or call 812-867-4491. Here are more photos from last weekend’s visit to LM Sugarbush: